ReverseTex
Old Timer
MARATHON: A MODERN WESTERN
coded by Mister Glass
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Realistic or Modern Marathon: A Modern Western RP (IC Thread)
- Thread starter ReverseTex
- Start date
ReverseTex
Old Timer
MARATHON: A MODERN WESTERN
Chapter 1: The Dog Days
Monday, August 8th, 2022
Early Morning: Dry, Warm Breeze, Clear Skies
Chapter Theme
Monday, August 8th, 2022
Early Morning: Dry, Warm Breeze, Clear Skies
Chapter Theme
When Vicky was rustled awake from her bunk this morning by her bunkmate, she
By the time she was ready and out of the stables, she trotted over to the usual meeting point between the McBride house and stables. Guests were usually allowed to borrow one of the family’s horses, considering they were more tempered, depending on who their rider was. Had they been given Parker or Maggie’s horse, well, it wouldn’t be much of a morning stroll. While the pair waited, Vicky ran a gentle hand through Bosa’s mane. “Where do you want to go today?” She inquired playfully. Considering the herd was in a manageable spot for the next few days, she suspected a worthy hike was in order.
The sounds of footsteps and chatter caught her and her horse’s attention, drawing her eyes up towards the house. Her expression, one of pasted excitement, shifted into legible confusion. Jack and his uncle were in approach, and with no guests with them. Once they were close, coming to a stop, she investigated. “Is anyone else joining us? I thought I was giving a tour." She asked.
Edward was quick to reply, explaining they simply needed a morning ride and chat before breakfast. An extra pair of eyes was always an asset on rougher trails, so they figured she’d be good company. Vicky knew her place, and it certainly wasn’t asking questions about her place. “I’ll wait at the south trail for y’all and take point then?” She suggested. “I think the horses might enjoy breaking in the Dogtooth trail. Noone has ridden in since May, so it could be good to get the soil patted before it cools down again.” Once the plan was squared away, she nodded, then headed off towards the trailhead.
The roar of applause was thunderous, akin to the methodical patterning of a helicopter’s rotor. Oddly enough, both sounds helped keep his thoughts narrowed. It heightened his focus on whatever he was doing, whether it be flying or, in this case, strapping himself to a bull. The rodeo attendants worked quickly, like a pit crew, to secure and check his padding. The steer he sat atop wiggled anxiously, preterebed by the pressure of the shoot and an unknown object on it’s back. Suddenly, without consent, the bull shot free from the shoot. Eight seconds. The scene shifted, mirroring the familiar flight path he took over the island of Oahu. Long gone was the sandy Boseman Arena ring. His view was tailspinning down, as if he were in a crash. There was no stopping this. Before he could make a move to save himself, a violent stabbing sensation erupted in his back. He couldn’t hold back a blood-curling cry of pain, shocking his senses awake…
Painfully, he sunk back into bed, a light groan following. He’d have to apologize to Jessica at breakfast. Right now he needed his medicine. Fumbling loosely with what light began to crack through his window, he found the orange pill bottle on his nightstand. Without a second thought, he unscrewed the cap, removed two pills, and popped them down the hatch dry. It would take a few moments for the pain to subside and the numbness to fully settle in his skin. Till then, rather annoying thoughts and pain.
Today was the breakfast meeting. Parker had to be somewhat present for that, at least as much as his pills permitted. Dad requested the entire family, plus Dean, to be present. Considering the tone of the ranch the last few weeks he’d been home, it certainly wasn’t going to be a good chat. He was left out of the loop on most internal affairs, leaving that to Jack and Uncle Ed. But now that he was home, his father requested more effort. More focus on the things that mattered... The pills took their effect, and Parker’s new definition of normal began. He managed to push himself out of bed and laxly get ready for the day.
After popping out the shower and getting dressed, opting for a simple jean, work boot, and shirt, he tossed his damp hair in a towel. Unexpectedly, he heard a substantial thud from the room next to his. Magdalene’s room. He chuckled lightly to himself, fully aware of what he was about to walk into. With the towel still loosely draped on his neck, he headed down the hall to let himself in her room.
“Stick the landing next time, Mags.” Parker smiled, leaning against his sister’s doorframe. Mags was a mess on the floor, returning from whatever adventure she managed to find the night before. The cracked window she managed to shimmy herself through let in the morning breeze. hot on the lungs. Unfortunately, it seemed like another hellishly hot day. He shut the door behind him after Gus entered, careful not to alert anyone else who may be awake now that his niece was roaring. “If you had shown up thirty minutes ago, I could’ve pawned off the fact I just woke Rowan up on you. So for that, fuck you.” He teased, a smile erupting from his face as Gus went to greet her. “Any good stories to tell?” He inquired playfully, curious to know what led to his sister’s outing.
Once again, another mind-numbing night of driving up and down I-90 and
The sound of the coffee pot clattering to life snapped him awake. A stifled moan, rubbing a hand over his face to wake himself up. Amber was up and moving about earlier than he expected. “If you weren’t already, fix me a cup, please.” Tyler sighed, pushing himself to a seated position. “Nothing out of the ordinary last night. I almost drove by Whiskey Road to kill some time. But I figured I'd try and bank on the fact I was tired.” He explained a typical routine of their’s after a shift. However, he omitted the fact that he hadn’t slept the night before. Sure, Amber was a perceptive young woman, but that didn’t mean he wanted to admit his sore spots.
“Any word on work yet?” Tyler inquired. He knew there wasn’t much to go around employment-wise in Marathon. But he was aware his daughter needed something to keep her busy.
Scene Starters:
Pagemaster
,
BeyondDandy
Active Cast:
RXN3-
,
Sistros
Last edited:
Pagemaster
A fox is a wolf who sends flowers.
Jessica had been up since just before dawn, slipping into the shower while Rowan slept and Jack got geared up for the day. By the time she made it to the kitchen her husband had already got a cup of coffee ready for her. How he survived without it, she didn't know. He joked about surviving on pure spite and some days she had to admit he was probably right. The man consumed no caffeine outside of the odd breakfast tea so spite was the only other possible option to fuel him.
She gave him a quick kiss as he pulled his rifle from the rack of antlers above the front door and headed into the pre-dawn heat. Edward wanted to chat with the younger man about something, but he hadn't confided in her what it might be. She and the older McBride often worked quietly together to try and sway Jack around to seeing things their way. He was old fashioned in many ways but he also knew the value of change, it just had to be pitched in the right way.
Turning back to the kitchen she hunted down a couple pans for eggs and bacon. Add toast, some butter, and a bit of dijon mustard, and you had a pretty decent breakfast sandwich. No one else stirred in the house and she took the opportunity to sit down and put her feet up. A one year old required pretty much around the clock care now that she had gone mobile. Keeping Rowan from killing herself was a fulltime job in itself, and making sure she was fed was not a little task either. She was still eating a mix of breast milk and banana/avocado paste.
As if sensing the thoughts aimed in her direction, Rowan gave a short sharp cry. Nothing overly loud, but enough to let Jessica know that peace and quiet was done. She glanced at the wooden clock on the wall. Ten minutes of time to herself. Not bad.
The nursery was really a converted guest room right next to the bedroom she shared with Jack. The blinds were drawn and the AC kept it at a nice temperature. A sound machine, sounding somewhat like the inside of an airliner at 40,000 feet, cast a red glow throughout the room and as Jessica entered she saw the face of her baby turned toward her, eyes wide open. The moment she leaned over the edge of the crib the little chubby face split into a massive smile and what passed for a giggle, more of a "geeeesh" sound, greeted her as she lifted Rowan into her arms.
One diaper change and five minutes later Jessica carried Rowan into the kitchen to find Tom sitting bleary eyed at the table with a coffee in one hand and his head in the other.
"Perfect timing!" Jessica didn't wait as she plopped Rowan down onto her grandfathers lap. The baby regarded him for a moment and then the adorable little smile shot across her face again and she pushed her bunched fists into her mouth with an appreciative "goo".
"Sandwich?" She asked as she set about laying out enough for the family.
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Misty Gray
Pessimisty
The Williams House
-Marathon, Texas-
Amber Williams
-Marathon, Texas-
Amber Williams
Last night, Amber had opted for a quiet evening at home rather than heading to the pub or even heading out to her favourite stargazing spot. Even as she relaxed back on the sofa, calling her friends and watching television, in the back of her mind she knew she couldn't let herself get used to doing nothing. She'd been home for two months and the sudden slowed pace had been difficult to get used to at first, but now she felt she was embracing doing nothing far too much.Amber had woken much earlier that morning than she would have preferred. With so many thoughts stirring in her head, she knew it would have been pointless trying to go back to sleep. She'd left Christian those problems back where they belonged in Austin, but it didn't mean it was easy to forget that period of her life. Similarly, it was hard to forget the part of her life in Marathon that she'd left behind years ago. She knew about Parker's accident and that he was back at the ranch again now. So far, she'd avoided bumping into him and as such had yet to speak with him. Amber wasn't sure how she would even approach that.
Dressed and ready for the day ahead, Amber made her way into the living area to make herself a mug of coffee. Noticing her father asleep on the sofa prompted her to take lighter steps than she naturally would have. It wasn't an unfamiliar sight to see him crashed on the sofa, but she still wasn't keen on it. He chose to work late shifts and from what she'd observed he hardly slept. Feeling like enough of a burden for coming back home, she wasn't going to rush into pulling him up about his unhealthy habits.
As she made a serious effort to make coffee and breakfast without causing too much noise, Amber got lost in her own thoughts. She was glad to be able to walk around without dressing up or putting on make-up to make a good impression. It was refreshing to just be herself and feel comfortable with that. As she slid the sugar cannister towards herself, she was reminded of how much of a chore it had been making Christian his morning coffee. It would never be perfect, to the point where he'd make her add the most insignificant extra bit of milk and claim it made all of the difference. Of course, she'd since come to her senses and realised her ex was not fussy about his drink at all. It had simply been one of his many ways of gaslighting her and trying to condition her into being someone she wasn't.
Amber snapped out of her thoughts when she placed the coffee pot down on the counter a little too heavily. Cringing, she looked over to the sofa where she could see Tyler stir. "Sorry! Being quiet never was my strong suit..." she apologetically joked. When he asked for a drink, she nodded her head. "Sure thing!"
She listened as he explained how his night had gone, where he'd decided against going to Whiskey Road. She didn't respond to the information, figuring he didn't need her approval, even if she was concerned.
Amber had just finished stirring their drinks when Tyler asked her about work. She carried both mugs in her hands as she moved to sit next to her father on the sofa. She handed him his coffee before taking a careful sip of her own.
"Nothing yet. Surprisingly, there's not much need for a legal secretary in Marathon. So that whole thing was a waste," she drily remarked. Despite her disappointment, she had no inclination to return to the city. She wanted to be in Marathon now. "Maybe I'll have to resort to selling photos of my feet or making obnoxious videos on social media," she scoffed. "I know it's not ideal for you having your freeloader daughter back home. I'll work on it," she assured him. Personally, it wasn't ideal for herself, being unemployed, single, and having no clear path ahead of her.
ReverseTex
(Tyler)
Misty Gray
Pessimisty
The McBride Ranch
-Marathon, Texas-
Edward McBride
-Marathon, Texas-
Edward McBride
Edward had been up long before sunrise, making sure to be prepared for his day's plans but to also fit in a work call beforehand. His apprentice was by now used to out of hours calls from Edward and if Jordan wanted to progress in his career, then he needed to take more responsibility. Especially when Edward was focusing on the bigger projects which would help build his portfolio for the next position he had in his sights to step into: Vice President of Franklin Real Estate."When you meet with the Smiths today, you can offer them five percent above our original proposal," Edward spoke into the headset of his mobile phone as he pulled on his left boot. Jordan had potential, but he was still somewhat sentimental and needed reminding that business was business only. Maybe the heat was adding to his irritation, or maybe it was simply that his commands were warranted. "Every other owner has sold up, so we won't allow some substandard greasy spoon to delay the project. They're long beyond retirement age, for God's sake, so we're doing them a favour. Either they accept the increased offer or we move to the next plan. There are more ways to get them to sell up and after enough sabotage they'll gladly take the offer." Once both boots were on, Edward stood up. "When we next speak, I want to hear progress. Best of luck, Jordan," he encouraged the young man.
After getting the rest of his things together for the morning ride with Jack, Edward quietly exited the guest house, leaving Jennifer fast asleep in bed. He then walked straight to meet his eldest nephew outside the ranch as planned. Plans had been made for a family meeting over breakfast, where Edward intended on discussing the state of the McBride ranch. He'd known the family's finances were in bad shape before he'd stepped in at the ranch for Tom, but now he'd been back in Marathon for a few months he realised just how dire the situation was.
Before the meeting, Edward wished to speak with Jack alone, so had arranged for them to go out for a ride where they could speak directly. Having worked with his nephew in Tom's absence, it was only right. "Another day in paradise," he greeted his nephew. Despite missing the perks of the city, especially the fully functioning air conditioning, Edward couldn't deny his love for Marathon's scenery.
The two men walked together, soon reaching the stables where Vicky was ready and waiting for them. The young woman appeared surprised she wasn't giving a tour, no doubt on account of Edward giving little away to begin with. "It's just the two of us today," he confirmed to her with a polite smile. "Jack and I simply need to discuss matters together. Your backup whilst we talk would be much appreciated."
Vicky suggested taking the Dogtooth trail, during which Edward briefly turned to see Jack was double-checking the saddles on their horses. Looking back at Vicky he nodded and smiled. "I trust your expertise, Vicky. Dogtooth trail it is," he happily agreed with her choice.
Pagemaster
(Jack)
ReverseTex
(Vicky)
Pagemaster
A fox is a wolf who sends flowers.
Jack gave Jessica a quick kiss and then reached up to pull the .308 Winchester rifle down from the twelve point Elk rack above the front door. The animal had died of old age shortly before Jack found him at the bottom of a coulee; normally he left such a thing to nature but the rack had been so impressive he had taken it for the Ranch house.
The metal of the rifle was cool in his hands as he checked it was loaded and then slung it over his shoulder. At his waist he carried a pistol and his Special Ranger badge clipped to his belt. If he was going to be forced to go for a "mystery" ride with his Uncle, he was going to get some work done as well while he was out. His appointment required he put in a couple of patrols a week in order to earn a respectable income a year. It wasn't enough, not even close, to help with the running of the Ranch, but it was more than enough to provide a comfortable existence for his family.
The pre-dawn air was already hot as he stepped outside. He paused for a moment, cocked an eye toward the sky, and then returned to the house where he replaced his Stetson with a sombrero. The Mexicans had invented the things for a reason and he sure understood why on these hot days. There was no sign of Edward yet so he waited in the courtyard. The space was two stories tall with climbing vines and rose plants along every column and railing. The air was already alive with the hum of bees, and hummingbirds darted to and fro throughout the larger plants. A fountain bubbled in the centre bringing a measure of cool to the space even during the hottest days.
A door opened nearby and Edward appeared. "Another day in paradise." He said as a greeting.
Jack nodded in reply and the two of them crossed the flagstone courtyard, their boots loud on the stone, until they passed through the wooden doors and onto the gravel roadway outside. The heat hit them at once like a blast furnace and Jack knew they wouldn't be able to ride for long without risking injury to the horses if they weren't careful.
He didn't bother asking his uncle any questions as they walked, it wouldn't do any good, and besides, he needed to get out for a ride. It would help keep him from growling at the older man and his weird attempts at trying to disguise his "talks" as rides. He was at least glad to see Vicky. She was a depressingly cheerful person in the morning and matched his own energy most days.
He quickly checked the horses over that had been selected by a stable hand before pulling himself into the saddle. He slid the rifle into its holster, ensured his canteen was full, and then nodded to Vicky.
"Lead on."
ReverseTex
Old Timer
Tyler gave a grateful nod to his daughter as he accepted the warm mug, downing a large sip. The heat wasn’t a factor anymore after years of guzzling it on the force. It was simply fuel. Nothing more, nothing less. Amber made herself comfortable on the other corner of the couch while he leaned into his. “I don’t think it was a waste,” he said. While her next comments were a joke, he raised a brow. “I raised you better than that.” Before his serious tone was dismissed, he quickly followed with a quip. "If you do, I better get at least half of the share. I invested fifty percent into those feet long before you knew how to use’em.”
He ran a lazed hand through his tossed hair, trying to tame it to something more suitable. “I don’t think your legal career’s a waste, honey. You had good intentions going into it. Don’t let that asshole ruin your vision.” If he ever caught sight of that boy, he wasn’t going to make it far. The few times he met Chrisitan, he thoroughly disliked his presence. He reeked of class, but he’d kept his mouth shut. For Amber’s sake, a rich man wasn’t necessarily a bad thing to settle with. He wouldn’t be around forever, and he had little to leave behind for her. But now that he was out of the picture, he felt zero remorse for any ill-words.
“Freeloading or not, I miss having you around. You keep me in line,” Tyler smiled, taking another sip of coffee. “If you get bored, I'm sure there’s files down at the courthouse that need sifting through. Not that there’s much there, but I'm sure archiving could kill some time and make some cash." He suggested. "Worse case, you drive down to the McBrides and wrangle some cows? God knows they run through hands like wildifre.” In years past, he'd had a few run-ins with the stray ranch hands. Tom, Jack, and Dean were good about policing the rowdiness amongst the cowpokes themselves. His general dislike for the family was morefounded with the youngest clan members. Parker McBride was a piece of work—a no-good spoiled young man. He thought that when he dated Amber years ago. Noting would change his mind on that. However, when he got word of the accident, he did genuinely feel bad for the family. Tom was a good man and didn’t deserve the hardship considering the state of the ranch. Jack too. Now Magdelence McBride was equal trouble, essentially taking Parker’s spot once he left town. It seemed like his whole job revolved around babysitting that damn family.
“Have you seen him yet?” Tyler asked, referring to Parker. He knew it wasn’t his place to dig, but curiosity got the better of him. Amber was cut-up over the boy back in the day, so he had a feeling she’d be shy of him. “Last time I was out at the ranch, I saw him.” He started, hoping to segway more information from her if he led. “Had to be a month ago now? Dropped Maggie off one night after Aaron called me to pick her up from the bar. I spoke to Jack briefly at the gate. Didn’t bother driving all the way up to the house... Anyway, he and Jack rode together to the gate in his truck. Sat in the cab the whole time and seemed to take care of his sister once we got her loaded up.” He explained. “He didn’t seem like himself. I guess most of my interactions aren’t the best to go off of, but still. He seemed... Numb.”
Tyler completely forgot to ask Jack about how his brother was holding up, but after retelling the interaction, it reminded him. Like he said, something seemed off with the boy. Had he paid better attention, maybe he could’ve gotten more out of it. Either way, it wasn’t his place to pry.
fawnsite
got your heart in a headlock.
Magdalene McBride had the flames of a thousand women burning away in her ribcage. McBride women had hearts of lions and minds of steel. Her mother had always taught her that silence was far more dangerous than furious uncalculated words, even when the flames were yearning to burst free. These wild hearts wait to destroy the structure, the foundation needed the perfect time to strike, to seemingly crumble so the rest could follow. And in the new dawn, the sun would rise and they would walk free, dancing around in the wreckage to a tune of their own making. But while Maggie McBride is the fire, Marathon was the rain. Two seemingly opposing forces fighting for power yet existing in harmony against all odds. When the fire caught and spread too far, threatening to swallow humanity whole, the rain swept through in a drizzle and put out the unneeded spot-fires. The very thing that contained her was the one thing she could call home.
Wet, hot air lapped at her face like the tongue of an old dog. Fighting against nature itself proved to be a difficult dance. Her boots kicked dust, a red cloud that plucked tears from her eyes. She made a promise to herself to never get up to watch the sunrise again, one that she time and time again broke- whether she wanted it or not- waking up with the sky still dark, the air cool on her skin, seeing the world just seem to stand still for one perfect moment, how could she give that up? She already knew the answer to that, pulling the bandana around her neck over her nose as she raced toward home. She had done the math time and time before, and she always got home and into bed just before the breakfast bell.
The window barely cracked, she managed to slip in and slip out (most of the time) wordlessly, done with all the grace of a retired grade school ballerina (her mother's idea). This time, though, the odds seemed stacked against her, her boot's spur caught in the rail of the window. And down she goes. A short curse escaped through her lips, breathless, half-convinced she had shaken the whole floor with enough force that Dad had to be up by now. As if on cue, the sound of footsteps and a shadowy silhouette seemed to loom just outside her bedroom door, and Maggie, the wounded animal, braced herself for the killing blow-
There was nothing more humiliating than watching Parker see you eat shit.
From the floor, Maggie managed to un-stick her spur, her leg now hanging loosely in the air as she pulled down the bandana. "Wow, Parker, why didn't I think of that?" Maggie asked, playful sarcasm dripping in her tone. She almost instantly found herself regretting the question as she got a face of old dog breath, Gus's big lips going straight for a kiss. "Gus, my man, you need to lay off the refried beans," She said between laughs, wrestling the pooch away just long enough for her to sit up. She was still wearing her clothes from the night before, a pair of worn khaki shorts and a pink plaid dusted with dirt.
"As if Jess would believe you," Maggie's eyes narrowed at her brother, although the grin spreading across her face seemed to betray her. She always seemed to light up when it came to storytelling, even if it were just as simple as sneaking out to see the sun rise. "I only went to go see the best sun rise this side of Texas, just outside of the city limits," said simply. "One hell of a sight, looks like it could swallow Marathon whole." She eventually got to her feet, brushing the dust off her shoulder.
Swiftly closing the window behind her, as if she hadn't had the most exciting morning, Maggie turned to her brother. "Is Dad up yet?"
ReverseTex
Old Timer
Considering his own antics were at bay since his homecoming, Parker enjoyed hearing his younger sister’s. While she stayed seated on the floor, he kept his lean into the doorframe. It alleviated some of the stress off his back plus blocked the way for anyone else to enter. Plus, he knew it was a near-miracle; by any chance, he stood on his own these days. “That’s it?” He enthused, a bit disappointed. Albeit with the breakfast meeting, it was probably smarter on her part not to wind up in trouble. “Drag me along next time, will you?” He sighed. Not that he felt out, but he knew he needed to get himself out of the house more.Even though he asked, he knew there wasn’t a guarantee he’d go. Shit, he’d been home for nearly two months and could count the times he’d ventured past the ranch gates on one hand. But if anyone was going to hold him accountable, it was Mags.
“Yeah, I think so,” he leaned his head back to listen through the door. If he had to guess, the old man was in the kitchen with Jessica and the baby. "Reckon, he’s on Pop duties. So you should be safe from an interrogation. Just be smart and clean up before breakfast.” From his own experience, it never went well when he showed up to breakfast in yesterday’s threads. Briefly, he glanced at his phone to check the time. Still an hour or so away from that mess.
Parker sighed, clearly stressed about the looming meeting. “Everyone’s been treading eggshells around me with ranch matters.” To keep his hands busy, he began to coil the towel, as if it were a whip. “Dad says he wants me more involved but still is nervous about my back. Jack seems to just want me to get off my ass. Dean’s been running around like a poor chicken with his head cut off, so I can’t pick his brain about any of this. And it feels like Uncle Ed is either putting out fires here or back in Austin.” For whatever reason, good or bad, Magdalene always seemed to be his confidant. “I’m just not sure what everyone wants from me?” Going into whatever family meeting they were having, he truly thought he had nothing to contribute.
Despite the numbness the pills granted, his anxiety had seen new heights since coming home. It was an unspoken side effect; everyone could tell, yet no one chose to address it. Sometimes, it came out in verbal outlashes. Other times, like now, it was more self-centered. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up.” Parker quickly recovered, trying to deminish what he stated.
Misty Gray
Pessimisty
The McBride Ranch
-Marathon, Texas-
Edward McBride
-Marathon, Texas-
Edward McBride
With the two men and Vicky having each mounted their horses, the young woman set off first to lead the way onto the confirmed trail. It went unspoken, but she knew her role in the morning's ride was as their lead and an appreciated extra pair of eyes. As the sun began to rise, Edward knew the morning was only going to get hotter, which subconsciously led him to tip the angle of his hat slightly in anticipation of requiring the shade it would offer his face. The landscape around them, brought on by the hot and dry summer, subconsciously had him think about the flask of water in his bag. He didn't require it yet, so shifted his thoughts elsewhere.
As beautiful as the place was, it was devoid of much life, where Edward saw potential for much more. The same potential that could be the solution to the McBride Family's financial woes. "Having spent significant time helping manage the ranch in recent months, it's clear to me that action needs to be taken sooner rather than later," Edward began, turning to see Jack's expression as he did. "That's why the family meeting has been called."
Facing forward as they traversed some untamed terrain, Edward looked out at the wide open space around them. "There's hundreds of acres in this family's name. That's hundreds of acres of potential solutions. When the sun has fully risen, there are large areas of land that will go untouched by shade for much of the day. If this family wants to survive, then green energy is the most obvious way forward. We can apply for funding to have solar panels built and that would be a start to bringing in significant income and profit. What would your thoughts on that be?" he asked, turning once again to gauge Jack's reaction, still under no illusions he'd be easily swayed.
Pagemaster
(Jack)
ReverseTex
(Vicky)
BeyondDandy
Dandy Connoisseur
The McBride Ranch
- Marathon, Texas -
DEAN FENTON
- Marathon, Texas -
DEAN FENTON
Dean awoke every morning at exactly 4 a.m., his internal alarm clock as dependable as the rising sun. Today was no different. His eyes rose to the thin glare of moonlight sneaking through the cracks of the old slats, and his body was alert before his thoughts could catch up.He dangled his legs over the edge of the bed, the cool hardwood floor bringing him back to the present. The room was simple, as if it belonged to a man who valued functionality over comfort. A nicely folded blanket was on a chair in the corner, next to a pair of used boots polished to perfection. Dean's life centered around discipline, and it showed in every element surrounding him.
Without hesitation, he entered the small kitchen. The familiar hiss of the kettle disturbed the silence as he brewed his first cup of coffee. Dean didn't need it to wake up—he was already alert—but the practice kept him calm and allowed him a chance to gather his thoughts before the day began.
By 4:15, Dean was dressed and ready, with his dark jacket buttoned to his chin and his boots fastened tightly. Outside, the world was still sleepy, with the streets shrouded in gloom and silence. This was his time, the calm before the storm, when he could think clearly and prepare his next move.
Dean stepped outside into the fresh morning air, his breath evident in the cold. He adjusted his gloves as his sharp eyes scanned the horizon. There was always something to do, something to plan for. And Dean Fenton was nothing if not ready.
As the first rays of morning crept over the horizon, Dean unlocked the gates for the cattle to wander and eat. They walked carefully, noses to the ground, looking for any remnants of grass that the drought had not taken. The terrain was scorched, the creeks and rivers had dried up, and the heat showed no signs of slowing down.
In recent months, Dean had lost three cattle to famine or dehydration. Each one seemed like a personal failure. He tried lugging water from town and rationing what little food he could afford, but his supplies were running low. With three to four months of intense heat ahead, the prognosis was bleak.
As if nature's cruelty wasn't enough, two of his primary ranch hands resigned last week, seeking gree- less brown pastures. Now Dean was understaffed, overworked, and out of alternatives.
By mid-morning, he'd moved his attention to the never-ending stream of money issues accumulating behind the scenes. Late payments for equipment, missed purchase orders—everything money-related required his attention. He hadn't mentioned these difficulties to Tom or Jack yet. After the Parker incident, tensions were high, and Dean didn't think it was a good time to add further stress.
Edward's presence did not help the situation. The man was a city boy through and through, and Dean didn't trust him. Edward always had something up his sleeve, and Dean was determined to find out what it was before it became an issue.
As the light rose higher, Dean noticed Jack and Edward talking with Vicky near the barn. They were preparing for a trail ride by saddling horses and loading gear. Dean raised his head and winked, his discomfort hidden behind a casual grin. He downed the last of his now-cold coffee and placed the mug on the porch railing before leaving again.
The ranch hands were making their way to the stalls from the bunkhouse, their banter echoing over the yard. Dean recognized Avalon, one of the recent recruits. Dean had seen her strong mind and natural aptitude for the job. He sensed promise in her—more than just another ranch hand—but hadn't told anyone yet.
"Avalon! "Hey!" he said, his voice cutting through the noise. She turned, her inquisitive expression catching his keen blue gaze. Dean nodded to the rest of the group as they greeted him and made their way to the stalls.
As Avalon neared, Dean leaned in slightly, his gaze darting about to ensure that no one else was nearby enough to overhear. "I need your help with something," he replied quietly and deliberately.
"It's important," he said, a touch of mystery creeping into his tone. He stood up straight, looking back at the house and then at the barn. "Come on. "Let's talk somewhere quieter."
Dean began walking, trusting Avalon to follow. If she was going to step up, now was the time to put her abilities to the test.
RXN3-
fawnsite
got your heart in a headlock.
Parker's voice was the only thing tying her to this plane of existence, a cruel reminder she was as young as she was ever gonna be. When had they gotten so old? The more she lingered on the features of Parker's face, the more she could see Dad. Which only made her wonder, if she stepped up to her dainty little vanity (one she had to lean down to see herself in), would she see Mom looking back at her?
She blinked, and she was back. Parker still standing her doorway, Gus happily panting at her side. She could see it from the look on Parker's face that he was practically itching for someone to take him seriously, to let him off the leash. She could only imagine the feeling, cooped up in the house, watching people come and go, live their lives around you and the only thing you can do is watch. "Next time, you'll be the one dragging me, since apparently sunrises aren't exciting enough for you." Maggie scoffed, although the possibility of a McBride kid adventure was in their cards. That was, of course, if they could get everyone else distracted enough to get Parker through the front door without so much as the bat of an eye (virtually impossible with Dad on the prowl).
The scrunch in Maggie's brow eased as relief took over her features, silently thanking Baby Rowan for her adorable existence. "I'm always smart, mind you." Maggie managed to slip in, sitting down on the edge of her unmade bed to kick off her boots. She had already made a schedule of events leading up to the meeting, down to the quarter of an hour when she'd be early, just to make conversation for the hell of it. Hell, she'd be toning most of the meeting stuff out.
Boots kicked off, and now wrestling with herself to pull off the socks she had probably been wearing for more then 48 hours now⎯ gross⎯ Maggie was careful to let Parker say his piece. This was the most she had gotten out of him since he had gotten back home, and the last thing she wanted to shut him out, not after the accident that had brought him back to Marathon. "Don't be. Sorry, I mean." She knew she could hardly bring much solace, being his kid sister and all, but what mattered was that she tried. "If you ask me, most of it is a them problem. Everybody sees a different best for you, thinks they see the big picture. Just matters what's best for you, and only really you know that."
Look, it wasn't necessarily the most comforting advice before a big meeting, really, more of a bandaid on an open wound more than anything, but at least it was a reminder that Parker wasn't alone in a house that was supposed to be home.
Misty Gray
Pessimisty
The Williams House
-Marathon, Texas-
Amber Williams
-Marathon, Texas-
Amber Williams
She placed her mug down on the coffee table when Tyler reassured her she was welcome at home. "Well, I did wonder if this place would still be standing without me here to keep you in order," she teased. She thought over her dad's ideas about potential work she could seek out. "I'd be up for those. Both the courthouse and helping out at the McBride ranch," she agreed. She'd missed working at the ranch as she had done years earlier. It would be refreshing to work back outdoors and be more active again. However, she knew the McBride solution would also mean she'd have no choice but to face Parker.
Naturally, Tyler's thoughts also led him to the man in question as he asked Amber if she'd seen her ex yet. Amber's hesitation to answer led Tyler to recount the last time he'd seen Parker. She couldn't hide her own concern when her father mentioned how different her ex had been. "Numb?" she repeated, studying Tyler's face. "No, I haven't seen him yet. I haven't spoken with him in years," she finally answered. Back when emotions were raw and she was feeling hurt by Parker, she'd deleted his number and other forms of contact with him in a bid to move on. Now, she wasn't sure if it was simply human decency or something more, but she found herself feeling concerned about him. Parker was never someone she'd expect to be described as being "numb" and she had been made aware of the severity of his accident. "Maybe I should go see him?" she asked. She wasn't one to ask for permission to do much of anything, so she supposed she was really asking to see if her father thought it was a bad idea. "I mean, if I did help out at the McBride ranch, I'm bound to see him anyway. But maybe I should break the ice?"
ReverseTex
(Tyler)
Pagemaster
A fox is a wolf who sends flowers.
Jack rested easy in the saddle, one hand loosely holding the reins. His horse, a black spotted mare name "Sissy", was his usual mount and she was as comfortable with him as he was with her. She could get to a gallop off the line like a jack rabbit, had great endurance, weathered the temperatures well, and would stand stalk still if you fired a rifle overhead; in short, she was the perfect cowpony.
To their right he could see the families prime breeding stock had been let out for the day. A clear sign Dean had been at work long before his cup of coffee on the veranda. His wink while Jack saddled up had not been ignored, Jack had grinned back. Neither of them had much time for city folk, leastways the kind who had helped out for a couple months and now thought they knew best about everything they clapped their eyes on.
The path was a good one and Jack knew Vicky was taking them toward the main herd. The herd was thousands strong and there would be six or seven ranch hands, along with their dogs, out and about on the dusty plain. On a day like today they would likely be herding them toward the Rio Grande. That river was big enough to accommodate the number of animals without it being turned into a muddy slough. It would also be a lot cooler down along the river.
Their path first climbed out of the small depression that housed the main ranch. It was a little cooler here and much greener, it was also the best well in the Southwest of Texas, more than enough water to keep animals and breeding stock alive in the worst drought. The original owners had picked their spot well. Once above the main buildings the landscape quickly reverted to the standard Texas scrubland. Shadows in the distant haze showed where the mountains lay and darker cracks in the distant landscape along the ground showed where moisture might be found.
"Having spent significant time helping manage the ranch in recent months, it's clear to me that action needs to be taken sooner rather than later that's why the family meeting has been called." Edwards voice cut through his revery and he resisted the urge to scowl at the older man. Classic city-slicker. A few months on the job and already he knew it all. Asshole.
"There's hundreds of acres in this family's name. That's hundreds of acres of potential solutions."
Thousands, but sure, Edward probably had no idea how big the place was; if he thought it was hundreds then let him. Manager for a couple months dontcha know. Jack grinned inwardly.
"When the sun has fully risen, there are large areas of land that will go untouched by shade for much of the day. If this family wants to survive, then green energy is the most obvious way forward. We can apply for funding to have solar panels built and that would be a start to bringing in significant income and profit. What would your thoughts on that be?" Edward turned in the saddle to glance back at him and Jack nodded sagely.
"We do get a lot of sun." He agreed. The solar panels weren't a terrible idea, but Edward wasn't the only one here who knew a thing or two about technology despite his evident belief to the contrary. "Aren't the panels easily damaged by the sand when it gets whipped around by the wind? Otherwise they would be all over the state without a second thought. It's a not a bad idea though. How many acres would be needed?"
ReverseTex
Old Timer
The trail Vicky selected hadn’t been traveled on in some time. Considering the McBrides were veteran rides, she suspected they weren’t in the mood for a necessarily mindless hike. Plus, it was clear the two men had matters to discuss. As Mr. Edward said, she was simply an extra set of eyes to fend off any animals. So she kept her mouth shut and rode ahead of the pair. Paving the path forward took more focus than she thought. The drought left the Dove Mountains drier than she remembered. Dry rock was everywhere, new cracks forming from the last time she’d been here. The earth wanted moisture; it needed it to survive just as badly as they did. The soil looked powdery and devoid of any nutrients, as did most of the plants. This hadn’t been a pretty ride, like she thought.
With the sun beginning to rise, Vicky figured the west side of the mountain would be suitable for riding. The natural shade provided by the crest would keep them cooler as the sun rose out of the east. As the trio made their way up the narrow pass, the trail gained in elevation. The incline was a natural increase, nothing extremely aggressive on the horses. But like she mentioned, the trail had lost it’s weathered path. Thankfully, she knew it by heart, and the fact she had company kept her confidence high.
The only part of this trail that concerned her was the dropoff. The cascading rock shelves were a glorious sight to behold. The limestone cliffs were sprinkled with parched grassy tops. One of the older hands, now retired, used to say the Dogtooth Trail was an old Comanche pass used to raid settlers along the valley. However, the danger always was just how loose the rocks could be if you missteped. Settlers never managed to scale it successfully for years, and the Natives never revealed their secrets. It was only after following the Spanish-American war that there was a credible success on horseback. Had she been with anyone else, she might’ve considered turning back. But when she glanced behind her, both men seemed to be in comfortable stride and conversation. It was in her best interest to let them speak amongst themselves. Jack knew what he was doing, and so did Edward. If they showed any concern, she’d second the decision to turn back-
A small flash of grey appeared from the side of the cliffs. The critter jumped in front of the trail suddenly, causing Bosa to reign back in freight. “Woah!” Vicky tried to soothe her horse, who typically remained calm under pressure, but her added anxiety made a difference. In order to keep from backing into both men behind her, she tried to tighten the reign and spur him back to reality. When Bosa landed, the sudden power with his stomp jossled the rightmost side of the path. Before much else could be done, the ground beneath her cascaded. With his anxiety still high, the horse failed to find his footing. “Shit!” Vicky panicked, feeling her horse lose his balance. Frantically, she tried to slide her feet from the stirrups, but there wasn’t enough time to leap free. The pair fell along with the rocks, barreling down the winding mountain trail to the bottom of the incline.
Nothing was clear. Dust. Blood. Haze. The weight of Bosa atop Vicky was bone crushing. His limp frame, once full of vigor, was drained of life. With any energy she had, she tried to shimmy herself free. Another excruciating rush of pain. The clattering of hooves was distant, or was it close? With each breath, more wheezing and wet, she knew her fate was settled. Death was stauntering in, and she had to face it.
In her haze, she clamored for either her cell phone or sat phone, if either were even still on her person. Underneath the weight of Bosa and the pain, she couldn’t manage. There wasn’t a way out of this one. Help was to far from the ranch, let alone this point in the trail. By the time Jack and Edward made it down to Vicky, the sight was sore to see. Blood, bone, and rock were nearly all that remained. Aside from the staggered gasps and bloody coughs.
With the sun beginning to rise, Vicky figured the west side of the mountain would be suitable for riding. The natural shade provided by the crest would keep them cooler as the sun rose out of the east. As the trio made their way up the narrow pass, the trail gained in elevation. The incline was a natural increase, nothing extremely aggressive on the horses. But like she mentioned, the trail had lost it’s weathered path. Thankfully, she knew it by heart, and the fact she had company kept her confidence high.
The only part of this trail that concerned her was the dropoff. The cascading rock shelves were a glorious sight to behold. The limestone cliffs were sprinkled with parched grassy tops. One of the older hands, now retired, used to say the Dogtooth Trail was an old Comanche pass used to raid settlers along the valley. However, the danger always was just how loose the rocks could be if you missteped. Settlers never managed to scale it successfully for years, and the Natives never revealed their secrets. It was only after following the Spanish-American war that there was a credible success on horseback. Had she been with anyone else, she might’ve considered turning back. But when she glanced behind her, both men seemed to be in comfortable stride and conversation. It was in her best interest to let them speak amongst themselves. Jack knew what he was doing, and so did Edward. If they showed any concern, she’d second the decision to turn back-
A small flash of grey appeared from the side of the cliffs. The critter jumped in front of the trail suddenly, causing Bosa to reign back in freight. “Woah!” Vicky tried to soothe her horse, who typically remained calm under pressure, but her added anxiety made a difference. In order to keep from backing into both men behind her, she tried to tighten the reign and spur him back to reality. When Bosa landed, the sudden power with his stomp jossled the rightmost side of the path. Before much else could be done, the ground beneath her cascaded. With his anxiety still high, the horse failed to find his footing. “Shit!” Vicky panicked, feeling her horse lose his balance. Frantically, she tried to slide her feet from the stirrups, but there wasn’t enough time to leap free. The pair fell along with the rocks, barreling down the winding mountain trail to the bottom of the incline.
Nothing was clear. Dust. Blood. Haze. The weight of Bosa atop Vicky was bone crushing. His limp frame, once full of vigor, was drained of life. With any energy she had, she tried to shimmy herself free. Another excruciating rush of pain. The clattering of hooves was distant, or was it close? With each breath, more wheezing and wet, she knew her fate was settled. Death was stauntering in, and she had to face it.
In her haze, she clamored for either her cell phone or sat phone, if either were even still on her person. Underneath the weight of Bosa and the pain, she couldn’t manage. There wasn’t a way out of this one. Help was to far from the ranch, let alone this point in the trail. By the time Jack and Edward made it down to Vicky, the sight was sore to see. Blood, bone, and rock were nearly all that remained. Aside from the staggered gasps and bloody coughs.
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Misty Gray
Pessimisty
The McBride Ranch
-Marathon, Texas-
Edward McBride
-Marathon, Texas-
Edward McBride
Jack didn't flat out reject the idea of the solar panels, instead bringing up a reasonable question about their drawbacks. "The sand issue is certainly being addressed where places already have them installed. As for the amount of land needed--"
Edward stopped short as their attention was drawn to Vicky up ahead. Something had clearly startled her horse and the young woman appeared to struggle when trying to calm Bosa down. Rather than rush up to her side, Edward knew to remain at a safe distance behind rather than further startle her horse. However, seeing the young man was panicking showed him she wasn't going to get the animal under control. Edward shot a glance to Jack as he prepared to move safely alongside her horse. Before anything could be done, the ground beneath Bosa gave way, sending the horse and Vicky falling down the mountain trail.
"Fuck!" Edward gasped as he pulled the reins towards himself to stop his own horse from leading them towards the same fate. "Jack!" he called, checking his nephew was safe and able to rush after Vicky with him. Not willing to risk a further accident from his now anxious horse, Edward dismounted the animal and grabbed his bag before rushing down the trail after Vicky.
Even before he reached the young woman, the sight of the horse on its side on top of her and only Vicky's head visible made it immediately clear just how dire the situation was. The closer he got, the messier the bloody scene became. At first, it was a relief to hear Vicky's struggled breathes and coughs. It soon became clear to him that a quick death would have been more merciful for her. Crouching down at her side, Edward studied the scene closer. There was no way they could get the horse off of her and help was too far away. The uneven and unpredictable terrain created by the landslide would only make a successful rescue mission impossible.
"We're here with you," he gently reassured Vicky as he placed a light hand on the side of her head. A similar age to his living daughter, it pained him to see the young woman suffering and in pain. His thoughts then shifted back to Elisa, the daughter he'd lost to a brain tumour. He and Jennifer had been forced to watch their little girl suffer in pain for months, knowing she was going to die but being powerless to stop the girl's suffering. If he could have taken away Elisa's pain, he would have. Clearing his throat, he looked Jack in the eyes, a grave look beneath his own. "We can't leave her like this," he knowingly told his nephew as he nodded towards his pistol.
Pagemaster
(Jack)
ReverseTex
(Vicky)
Sistros
Ewok Wrangler
Was that one reason why Edward had demanded the family meeting? His younger brother had always been the fastidious sort, especially concerning the ranch’s business operations. In that respect, he was a pain in the ass.
Tom exhaled softly and pushed one hand through his mop of silver hair, his other hand cradling a mug of steaming coffee. It was the best explanation he could conceive at this juncture, particularly when his own behavior was so bizarre. Of course, he would never admit that he was merely getting older and sleeping in was becoming more of a common occurrence rather than a luxury. He wasn’t ready to retire or wither away to a simple footnote in this family’s history. He still cared about the ranch, the family… the land…
Before he could elaborate on his reverie, his daughter-in-law, Jessica, entered the kitchen and promptly deposited his granddaughter into his lap. Baby Rowan’s presence instantly changed the whole dynamic. Tom was able to set aside his personal woes and crack a smile. He found the soft babbling of the child’s crooning soothing, a sound that hearkened back to days long past. It felt like a lifetime ago since he had last experienced this. He would never outwardly admit it, especially to other family members, but it made him feel sentimental. Perhaps he truly was growing soft in his twilight years.
"I swear, every time I see her, she looks a little bit older," Tom drawled in a low baritone, staring down into the cherubim-like face staring back at him with wide eyes. The old man chuckled, his throat tingling with pure joy as he bounced the baby on his knee. "I hope you’re not giving your mom too much trouble."
He playfully poked Rowan’s nose with his index finger before lifting his gaze to regard Jessica. "That would be perfect," he said with a soft smile, replying to her offer for a sandwich. "It may be a while until everyone finds their way in here… not like I blame them."
He scoffed and shook his head, referring to the upcoming meeting.
Pagemaster
A fox is a wolf who sends flowers.
At first Jack thought Bosa had been bit by a rattlesnake, it was incredibly rare for such a thing to happen, but it had been so hot recently that the damn things were out much earlier their usual and riding trails offered nice flat spots to curl up. His eyes darted along the trail as he tried to spot the creature but he could see nothing, his gaze snapping back to Vicky as she failed to bring the horse under control.
For a brief moment time seemed to slow as Bosa reared, twisted, and then a hoof slammed down on the trails edge and, a moment later, woman and horse vanished in a cloud of dust into the valley below. Edward, bless his heart, managed an shouted expletive before darting a glance back toward Jack. He might be a pretentious prick sometimes but no one could accuse him of not caring about the family.
Edwards own horse, panicked by the dust and its riders own emotions, crow hopped and Edward quickly dismounted, almost falling in his haste to get into the valley after Vicky. Jack couldn't see much from where he was at that moment but he knew enough about horses and falling to know this was not going to be good. He quickly reached into his jacket and pulled out the emergency beacon everyone on the ranch carried. He held the "panic button" for the five seconds it needed to activate. The signal would go out to anyone who had access to the system, as well as two central consoles, located in the main and bunk houses respectively. It wouldn't tell others what had happened but it would provide geographical coordinates and also show it was his beacon. It was slick tech Edward had brought onto the Ranch, a far better system than the basic "spot" Jack also carried as a ranger. That one would bring men with guns so he left it alone.
He urged Sissy forward and she moved past Edwards abandoned mount so he could get a better look down the side of the hill. Vicky was still in a cloud of dust and Edward was rushing toward her. Jack picked a spot about fifty yards down the trail and then, with a flick of the reins, he and Sissy dropped off the side of the path in a controlled rush down the hillside. It was steep but nothing they hadn't had to ride before. A lot easier when you were in control than poor Vickys chaotic fall.
Whatever hope he had for her was dashed as he rode up to find Edward kneeling next to her. The Ranch had lost a few hands before and Jack knew the signs of a dying person well enough. He could see shattered bone and tendon, not to mention a lot of blood, around the woman. Her raven hair was splayed out around her like a broken fan, her hat was gone, and Bosa as certainly dead. The once fine features, so often split with a cheeky smile, were tightened in a brutal grimace and she twitched violently every few seconds.
Edward cleared his throat and looked up gravely at Jack. "We can't leave her like this," he said as he nodded towards Jacks pistol.
Jack resisted the urge to slap his uncle. He knew the man had lost a daughter before it was clear he was in shock if was suggesting murdering Vicky as a mercy. Instead he dropped off Sissys back and gently pulled Edward away from Vicky. He took the older man by both shoulders and met his gaze.
"Edward, get on the sat phone. Call 911. We need help. I'll look after Vicky." He waited until the man nodded and then turned back to Vicky. He doubted she felt much pain at the moment, the shock would kill her just as fast as the blood loss when it wore off. He pulled his saddle bags down and quickly drew out a medical kit he was issued by the rangers. Nothing in there was going to help save Vicky, but he could make her last few moments more comfortable.
The kit included two small vials of morphine, the type of thing you saw in war movies being given to badly wounded soldiers. It wasn't going to save her, but it might let her die in a some semblance of peace. He felt tears prick the corners of his eyes as he administered one of the doses. The pain in her face seemed to ease and the claws of her hands loosened as he took one in his own. There was sweet fuck all else he could do at that moment. Any chance she might have now rested on Edward and the rest of the ranch hands.
Jessica smiled as Tom playfully poked Rowan’s nose with his index finger before lifting his gaze to regard Jessica. The baby gave a high pitched giggle, grabbed the finger and stuck it into her mouth with a slobbery coo. "It may be a while until everyone finds their way in here… not like I blame them." Tom added as he shook his head slightly.
Whatever Jessica was going to say would forever go unsaid as an urgent "Bong! Bong! Bong!" sounded throughout the house. Both the adults swung their heads toward the machine that pulsed with a red light on the counter nearby. Even Rowan, grandads finger forgotten, turned to stare at the thing. The emergency alert system. It could be activated by anyone on the ranch and, on the wall next to it, was a list of the device numbers and who they had been issued to. Jessica hurried over to check the machine.
It had been activated before by accident and was usually quickly turned off. She didn't need to read the list to know who this one belonged to however and she felt her heart jump into her throat.
"It's Jacks..." She said half to herself. Turning toward Tom she said it more forcefully. "It's Jacks. Um... We need to call 911." She was trying to wrap her head around what was happening. From a cozy moment in the kitchen to worrying her husband was now hurt had sent her mind into a rush. " It's Jacks." She said again.
Tom handed her the baby, jotted down the coordinates, and then hurried out of the room, likely to find Parker and Dean. Jessica reached for the phone. The ranch had a hardline, a safety precaution, and she quickly 911.
"911 Emergency. For what city?"
"Marathon. The McBride Ranch. We have an emergency beacon activation." Jessica's voice trembled as she spoke. In her arms, huge eyes upturned toward her mother, Rowans smile died and her bottom lip began to quiver. Jessica took a deep breath, trying to compose her face, and began to answer what questions she could.
RXN3-
❝My wings have broken off and I keep falling...❞
The McBride Ranch
- Marathon, Texas -
Avalon Rosewood
Ever since school had ended for the summer Avalon found a lot of free time on her hands, her academics weren’t bad and the bar was running smoothly which meant she could do whatever she wanted. Normally that would’ve been fine but this summer felt much slower than others she decided to look around town for a part time job and lo and behold the McBride Ranch was looking for some ranch hands.- Marathon, Texas -
Avalon Rosewood
She’d known the youngest child of the McBride family since she was a kid, Maggie. The older girl was like a role model for Avalon and the younger girl didn’t hesitate twice for applying for the job in hopes of seeing her friend. For the most part being a ranch hand wasn’t all too bad, cleaning the stalls always felt extremely satisfying although she knew she took it a bit far when she started obsessing over how clean it looked.
Having a family that owned a bar meant you usually didn’t encounter animals unless you ate them or visited the Ranch, she’d never shy away from animals, like her mother, Bailey, would’ve.
Just like any other day, the dusty sunlight from the blinds peeked through her room, it was a routine of hers to get up early and fix her bed, make some breakfast for the family, then move along her day with going to the ranch and helping out with whatever they needed her to do. Her favorite things to do at the ranch usually included the animals at the ranch, horses or whatever it was, she was ready. She didn’t mind getting dirty in the least, it filled up her time with actual interesting things to do besides just lazing around the bar.
Taking quiet steps, she noticed most of the family were asleep, save for her aunt who probably already made her way to the elementary school, she looked around for some ingredients, she fixed up some eggs and toast putting out a plate for her dad who would most likely be awake give or take thirty minutes.
She was minding her business in the almost blinding light of the ranch when she heard a familiar voice call her name, she saw Dean, a man rough or take the same age as her dad walk near her, she tried not to squint too much to keep eye contact with the older gentleman but it was especially hard when the sun was getting ready to rise higher in the sky, instead she shielded her eyes with her hand over her forehead.
She tries to create some space away from the group when he mentioned he needed help with something, she tried thinking of what he might need help with but the scorching heat on the sun made the gears in her head turn slower to which sucked. She wasn’t surprised that the workers even the part-timers had more work, especially with the resignation of two former workers.
They wanted more grass in general, and Marathon was barren of even that, a small town that’s almost dying with the same scenery everywhere usually drove people away, that’s also what drove her mom away, most people couldn’t stand the dusty microwaving feel of the heat. They’d just have to get used to it.
When he stood straighter she mimicked him a little as she put away the hand shielding her eyes, instantly regretting it a moment after when the light nearly blinded her. She follows Dean until they reach a rather more shaded and quiet area, where she holds his eye contact.
“Yes sir, what can I help you with?”
BeyondDandy
ReverseTex
Old Timer
Parker crossed his arms defensively, a poor attempt at trying to keep his emotions at bay. The McBride men weren’t an overtly emotional bunch. There always seemed to be more important matters to attend to. But now that he was trapped, both physically and metaphorically, by the walls of his childhood home, it left time for contemplation. As he stared at his feet, either arm clutching his side tightly, he listened to Maggie’s words. It was clear as day; everyone had an image of him. The middle child, the Navy playboy, the rodeo man. All of which were true. But now, with none of those identity markers, he wasn’t sure what was best either. The path forward wasn’t linear, which scared him the most.
“Well, I'll let you get decent for this stupid meeting.” He made the move to lean off the doorway. Before he did so, his phone vibrated in his pocket, reverberating off the frame. Mindlessly, he checked the notification. It was a prompt from the satellite phone app: SOS. “Who’s out this morning?” Parker asked, confused. “Figured it would just be Dean and the hands? Why am I getting pinged?” Typically, Dean kept his business self-contained with the ranch hands. If there were any non-serious emergencies, there wasn’t a reason he’d be pinged. Without another thought, he made his way out of Maggie’s room. Considering his mind was honed in on this odd notification, he didn’t think to shut the door behind him. He never got pinged for these. Even so, Uncle Ed still made sure everyone in the family had one and their phone was connected to the outreach system.
From downstairs, he could hear the echoing of the alarm system. Without a second thought, he hurried into his room. “Shit!” Parker exclaimed, grabbing his truck keys and emergency beacon off his nightstand. He practically belted the corner back to his sister’s room, popping his head in the frame. “I’m not sure who’s with him, but he’s on the Dogtooth Trail. Stay with Jess ‘til the cops get here. Do whatever she or Dad says, ok?” The commands couldn’t leave his lips fast enough. Adrenaline was taking over as well as his military training. Before he could hear her affirmation, he was running down the stairs.
Whistling by the kitchen and out the back door, Parker didn’t notice the trio downstairs. He needed to get to Dogtooth. While the garage was a five-minute walk, a recently laborious chore on his back, he managed to break into a jog to get there. While he jogged, he clammered for his phone. He needed to get a hold of Dean. Raising the phone to his ear, he prayed the man was still in cell range. Please, Dean, please. A silent plead as the tone methodically trilled on, waiting for him to pick up.
“Dean!” Parker nearly shouted. “Jack called an SOS. I don’t know what happened or who he’s with yet-” Before he continued, Dean stopped him. The mystery of who at least was solved. Victoria and Edward. Arguably the two more experienced riders on the ranch. Oddly enough, that made the situation worse in his eyes. Whatever occurred had to be serious if none of the three could handle it. “Alright. I’m going by truck to meet them on Dogtooth.” He explained. Since his return, Parker still hadn’t built the strength to mount his horse. Deep down, he knew the trailhead would be easier to reach on horseback. Helicopters would likely spot them easier, but impossible to land on the mountainous trail. If they needed any technical support, the truck would be the best support option. “911 is being handled up at the house. Make sure the hands prepare some of the horses for emergency services in case I can’t reach them. Head to the trail with the first response after that.” By the time he finished his last sentence, he was at the vehicle barn. Nearly out of breath, he threw himself into the first truck his saw and sped off down the dirt roads.
The Dogtooth Trail was notoriously treacherous terrain. From the difficult switchbacks to the cascading views. Dad always warned them of the dangers of that trail. Of course, he ignored the advice as a teen, but even he never made it to the top alone. One-off adventures to the hills with a six-pack and a sturdy horse. Nothing more. Otherwise, he was always with someone, whether it was Jack, Dean, or his father. He believed the Comanche tales; no settler was supposed to reach the top of those trails.
The trailhead luckily started in the bottom of the valley. His fear was the danger was towards the top and they’d be unreachable. Parker rolled down the window in case he could hear any sign of life. He knew if he drove fast, kicking up dust and rock, it would ultimately be harder to find them. So, he slowed his search to a crawl, his eyes scanning the trail. No sign of life. The first part of the trail was shrouded with trees, surprisingly still clinging on to some form of life. He couldn’t make out the bottom of the mountainside yet.
Before another thought crossed his mind, the trail opened up; the bottom of the switchbacks were visible. There he saw it. The pile of rubble and blood. Parker immediately stopped the truck, frozen by the sight before him. His eyes climbed upward, the noticeable missing chunk of the trail nearly halfway up the cliffside. There, the streaks of rock and smashed grass trailed down the side and to the foot of the hills where the bodies were.
************************************************
Parker got out of the car, adrenaline still helping his pain, and rushed up the hill to meet his brother and uncle. The first aid box in the truck wouldn’t help this situation, and he needed to see it for himself. Before he could get a word out, he saw Vicky’s contorted remains. “Oh…” Parker lurched, frozen by the scene. His eyes were still locked on her. She survived the fall? God. Jack kneeled over the poor girl, which meant she had only recently passed. Had he not seen the horrifying scene, he might've thought there was a chance to save her. But this? No. Poor Vicky didn't have a chance.
“911 is on the way to the house. Dad, Jess, Dean, and Mags have that covered.” Parker trailed, trying to zap himself back to reality. Clearly, there wasn’t a need for an ambulance. Alas, his gaze snapped off the boulderous mess and back to the two men still standing. “Are y’all ok?” He scanned each of them, void of any real damage save for a scuff or two.
ReverseTex
Old Timer
“I’ll swing by the courthouse before closing today and see what Miss Louise can do.” Tyler affirmed. The ancient woman who ran the secretarial as well as recording work at the courthouse never missed a beat. She was a sweet woman and certainly wouldn’t mind Amber’s company. Before he could comment further on the McBride idea, his daughter’s curiosity took him off-course. “Years, huh?” He sighed, finishing off the rest of his coffee. At best, he tried to keep his nose out of her affairs. She won’t be your little girl forever, Ty.
“Yeah, that's the best I could describe it. You know, he’s usually a ball of energy. Wasn’t when I was 'round. It could’ve been that it was later in the night. I don’t know.” He tried to reason. “As for a visit, I don’t see the harm in that. He’s up and walking, I hear.” Marathon knew the rumors and story of the accident all to well at this point. In his mind, Parker McBride was to stubborn to die a cripple. But Amber was a tender soul at times, like her mother. Despite her rough exterior, like his own, she cared deeply for people. “At the same time, if he wanted to see you, I’d like to think he would/ve done that by now.” He reminded.
The crackle of his radio snapped him from thought. Tyler completely forgot his belt was still attached. The small radio clipped to his shirt crackled again before the signal finally broke. “Requesting sheriff unit to McBride Ranch for first-response assistance. Received emergency notification from device services as well as a 911 request. All units be advised and available for search and rescue assistance.” His thumb slid over the return button, replying with a simple “10/4. Unit in route.”
Without a second thought, Tyler sat up and began to get himself together in a hurry. The emergency notification implied there was satellite communication with dispatch. Someone had to send a distress message out via a handheld device. On top of that, the fact there was also a dispatch call placed from the house made him all the more curious. “No. No, you can’t come.” He chastised Amber, who seemingly began to get herself together. If there was any sort of danger, he wanted her as far from it as possible.
Pausing at the front door, hat in hand, Tyler stared at Amber. His lip furrowed, frustrated that there was actually a good reason for her to come. Whatever occurred at the ranch was likely not at the house, which meant family support would be a helpful asset. Moreover, she knew the land better than he did. He never spent much time there, other than the occasional drop-off. “Come on,” he bregrundenly sighed, leaving the door open for Amber to follow behind him.
From town to the ranch took thirty minutes driving normally. In his SUV, sirens on and foot firmly on the gas, he managed to bolt there in a solid 10. While the ideal time was between 7-8 minutes for a response, the McBrides didn’t do themselves any favors with how far they were from town. By the time he pulled up to the opened gates, the ambulance squeal wasn’t far behind. The dirt road to the house kicked a cloud of dust behind him as he barreled to the front. “If anyone asks why you’re with me, tell them we were out at breakfast.” Tyler said firmly, his eyes firmly locked on the house. Nothing could break his concentration on the scene at hand. “You’re going to stay here at the house and car ‘till I get a better idea of what’s gone down.”
Tyler slipped out of the driver’s side once he came to a halt. The ambulance wailed on, despite idling in the middle of the path. Magdalene McBride was waiting for him, seemingly ready to direct him in the right direction. “Right. What’s happened, and where are we needed?” Tyler questioned firmly, slipping into his training.
Misty Gray
Pessimisty
The McBride Ranch
-Marathon, Texas-
Edward McBride
-Marathon, Texas-
Edward McBride
Jack had positioned himself firmly in place of tending to Vicky and so Edward used the sat phone to call 911. It wouldn't do Vicky any good, but it was the correct procedure, so had to be done. He watched on from a distance as Jack surprisingly retrieved the vials of morphine and went ahead to administer the doses.
Of course, before any help could arrive, Vicky passed away with Jack at her side. As Edward keep an eye out around them for anyone arriving, he heard movement a short distance away. This was soon followed by footsteps as Parker rushed into view. "Steady there, lad," Edward called out to his nephew wanting to make sure he didn't do himself an injury in the rush.
Edward firmly nodded when told help was on the way to the house where the others were. "The poor girl has just passed away," he said, removing his hat as he spoke. He took that opportunity to wipe his sweating forehead with the back of his hand. "Just a graze or two in the rush down, but we got off very lightly," he assured Patrick.
Edward took a moment to look Parker over. Aware of his nephew's injury, he wanted to make sure he wasn't aggravating any existing issues or overexerting himself. Satisfied for now, he looked around and held out his hat in the direction Vicky and her horse had fallen from. "The poor girl's horse got spooked by some critter out here. The ground gave way in the scuffle and, well, they both fell and tumbled down here." Edward looked back down to Vicky, working hard to hold back his shock and upset at the girl's death to ensure he could remain stable for the family.
Pagemaster
(Jack)
ReverseTex
(Parker)
BeyondDandy
Dandy Connoisseur
The McBride Ranch
- Marathon, Texas -
DEAN FENTON
- Marathon, Texas -
DEAN FENTON
Dean Fenton entered his neatly arranged apartment, the subtle aroma of coffee and old books permeating the air. Dean adjusted the glasses on his nose and approached the desk, where a mound of papers threatened to ruin the room's order.He rifled through them with experienced skill, his fingertips locating what he was looking for. "Aha!" he said, bringing out a folded piece of paper. He carefully unfolded it, displaying a map with marks, scrawled notes, and coordinates. It was a detailed plan of the McBride Ranch and its surroundings—a project he had spent many hours on.
Dean studied the map in quiet, his gaze darting across the lines and symbols. Every mark revealed a story: the roads he had taken, the vulnerabilities he had discovered, and the opportunities he had recognized. When he was satisfied, he turned to face Avalon, who stood calmly behind him.
“Do you know how to drive?" he inquired unexpectedly, his tone as matter-of-fact as always. Without waiting for an answer, he went into his pocket and took out a pair of keys. With a swift toss, he launched them toward her.
They were the keys of his single-cab Ford Ranger, which had seen better days. It wasn't just a car; it was a piece of his past, passed down from his late father, and a remembrance of simpler times before life became so complicated.
"We're going on an adventure," Dean stated, his voice filled with a rare sense of excitement.
Dean tucked the map into his back pocket, motioning for Avalon to follow. They would leave the safety of his well organized environment and venture into the unknown. The McBride ranch was more than just a vacation; it was a puzzle, a mystery to solve. And for Dean, it was the next stage in a plan he had been working on for longer than he wanted to acknowledge.
——————————————————
As they drove, Dean counted exactly seven minutes, ticking off the seconds in his brain and started again when he reached sixty. The outdated dash in his Ford Ranger wasn't much help—it didn't indicate the time, mileage, or even the gas level. The only working gauge was the speedometer. Waylon Jennings' voice filled the cab from a scratched CD Dean had on repeat, the country legend's drawl breaking through the awkward stillness that could otherwise have formed between him and Avalon.
The drive had begun on tarmac, but about a mile in, Dean led Avalon off the main road and onto a dirt route that went through the rocky Texas countryside. The truck bounced over the rough ground, heading for a steep hillside in the distance. As they approached, Dean motioned for Avalon to halt.
He got out of the vehicle and went to the bed, where two shovels lay against the side. He grabbed them and handed one to Avalon with a quick nod. "This way," he said, climbing the slope.
The climb was steep, with the sun hammering down relentlessly from a clear sky. The dry Texas air burnt their lungs, and sweat immediately seeped through their clothing. Dean, however, appeared unconcerned. This was his element—the outdoors, the grit, and the struggle. It was the life he had been raised in, and he refused to let it go.
At the top of the hill, Dean paused, studying the surroundings with a sharp, calculating glance. For a while, he appeared bewildered, his brow furrowing as if he had forgotten the exact location he was looking for. Then he saw it: a strip of orange tape fluttering in the unusual breeze.
"There it is," he announced, motioning for Avalon to follow. He moved to the spot and pushed his shovel into the earth with practiced precision. The blade dug into the dry earth, and he leaned into it to scrape up a chunk of soil. He worked swiftly, his gaze periodically straying to the horizon, looking for signs of unwanted attention.
The abrupt ringing of his phone broke the silence. Dean straightened and pulled it from his pocket, gesturing for Avalon to continue digging. The screen flashed with an emergency notice, followed by a call from Parker.
"This can’t be good," Dean said quietly, taking a step away from the excavation site. The conversation was brief but urgent, and Parker's voice strained as he described the issue. Dean listened attentively, his jaw tightening with each word.
When the phone ended, he exhaled sharply and ran a hand over his hair. For a few period, he stood there, staring at the horizon, his thoughts racing. Then, unexpectedly, he cursed beneath his breath. "Fuck!"
He returned to Avalon, plastering a smirk onto his face that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Change of plans," he murmured calmly, despite the stress seething beneath the surface. "We need to get back to the house. An emergency came up. We'll finish this later."
Dean took his shovel and began descending the hill, motioning for Avalon to follow. When they got to the truck, he extended his hand for the keys and climbed into the driver's seat.
Dean gave Avalon a stern look as the Ranger drove back toward the home. "I need you to keep this between us," he said, leaving no space for disagreement. The truck rocked along the uneven terrain, leaving dust in its wake. "What we're doing out here is important. Can I trust you to keep it quiet?"
Dean offered a single approving nod, his gaze concentrated on the road ahead. Whatever awaited them back at the house, he knew it was just the start.
—————————————————-
Dean approached the gates just as police cruisers and ambulances drove by, their sirens piercing through the dry Texas air. He eased off the gas and let them pass before following them into the property, his jaw stiffening as the gravity of the situation sunk him.
As soon as he reached the main lot, Dean yanked the Ranger's handbrake and turned to face Avalon. His eyes locked with hers for a brief period, a wordless message going between them: I'm counting on you to keep this secret. Without saying anything, he threw open the door and jumped out.
Before heading off, he leaned back into the cab and instructed Avalon, "Tell everyone to get the horses ready—just in case."
Dean then dashed toward the Sheriff, whom he saw standing close Magdalene. Dean approached quickly, his boots creating little clouds of dust. "Sheriff Williams," he called out out, stretching his hand and reaching them. "Thank you for getting here so quickly."
The Sheriff was a broad-shouldered man with a weathered face and a straightforward approach. Dean didn't spend any time. He took the folded map from his back pocket and opened it just enough to point out the indicated routes. "Jack, Edward, and Vicky were last seen on the Dogtooth Trail," he said, his finger tracing the route. "The terrain is rugged, particularly toward the top, with loose rocks and sharp drop-offs. Parker went out to check on them earlier, but we have not heard from him since."
"No signal up there," Dean explained. "That's why I am worried. If something happens, they won't be able to contact us. I’m surprised the emergency call went through.”
"Parker was on his way to them. "He may have reached them by now, but if not... He drifted off, leaving unstated possibilities hanging in the air.
Dean took a step back and glanced at Magdalene, who appeared pale but determined. He searched about for Tom and Adelaide.
Dean sighed, his attention shifted to the distant hills. "We need to find them," he murmured under his breath, already planning what to do if they didn't.
RXN3-
Misty Gray
Pessimisty
The McBride Ranch
-Marathon, Texas-
Amber Williams
-Marathon, Texas-
Amber Williams
Amber was prevented from dwelling on such thoughts as she heard the crackling of Tyler's radio was heard. This was followed by a voice requesting his presence at the McBride Ranch. Her eyes widened as she heard there had been an emergency and a rescue was needed. Naturally, given the conversation they'd just been having, her first thought was that Parker had been hurt again. Then, even if he was okay, she was concerned about anyone who could have been harmed. It sounded serious.
As her father did, Amber also stood up and moved to grab her boots from nearby. Noticing her actions, Tyler was quick to tell her she couldn't join him. She scoffed, a defiant expression and posture reflecting her disagreement before she could even vocalise it. "Yes, I can," she asserted. The man continued towards the door, but stopped short and looked at her again. He soon gave in and told her to follow. Retrieving her hat and phone, she quickly walked after him.
After an urgent drive, the two made it to the McBride Ranch. Tyler set out the story to stick to, that they were out for breakfast together. "Sure thing. Maybe we'll do that for real soon," she remarked. Not wanting to make his job harder, she didn't push things and agreed to stay with the car at the house whilst he did his work.
After watching Tyler leave to address Magdalene, she gazed out of the window to the McBride House, but it had been a long time since she'd been there. She wasn't dating Parker now and so she wasn't comfortable heading inside unless she was needed or there was an update on the situation.
